A's finalize radio broadcast plans for 2019

By
Jane Lee

February 15, 2019

MESA, Ariz. -- Following a winter-long pursuit of a new radio residence, the A's on Friday finally unveiled their broadcast plans for the 2019 season.They've found a new home with a familiar partner, teaming up with KTRB (860 AM) for the second time and first since 2010. Not only will

MESA, Ariz. -- Following a winter-long pursuit of a new radio residence, the A's on Friday finally unveiled their broadcast plans for the 2019 season.They've found a new home with a familiar partner, teaming up with KTRB (860 AM) for the second time and first since 2010. Not only will KTRB carry all of Oakland's games, but the audio will also be available in-territory through the streaming service TuneIn, which will launch a channel that produces team-related content 24/7.In addition, KHTK (1140 AM) will offer coverage of all games -- minus Sacramento Kings games conflicts -- in areas to the east not provided by KTRB, resulting in the largest coverage map ever for A's radio broadcasts.Fans outside of the A's broadcast territory will be able to secure audio through a subscription to MLB.TV.

Announcing a RADIO BROADCAST AGREEMENT with KTRB 860 AM and an expanded partnership with KHTK–AM 1140 in Sacramento. The dual stations, along with 17 additional radio network affiliates, will provide the largest coverage map ever for A’s baseball. pic.twitter.com/dG3WWTHMG5

"Our new partnerships significantly amplify our coverage and reach," said A's COO Chris Giles, who is "thrilled" to "deliver exclusive content and unprecedented coverage throughout the season."Ken Korach will return for his 24th season with the A's and his 14th as the team's lead radio announcer. His partner, Vince Cotroneo, is set to begin his 14th season with the team, and TV color analyst Ray Fosse will also make special appearances in the radio booth during the season. Chris Townsend, recently hired by the A's as a host and senior broadcast producer, will lead expanded pre- and postgame shows.KIQI (1010 AM) and KATD (990 AM) will provide Spanish-language broadcasts featuring returning voices Amaury Pi-González and Manolo Hernández-Douen.The A's TuneIn channel can be accessed at tunein.com/athletics.Pennington returns to organization
Veteran infielder Cliff Pennington is returning to the organization that originally drafted him. The A's have signed the utility man to a Minor League contract with an invite to big league camp.Pennington, 34, debuted with the A's in 2008 and played in parts of five seasons with them before being traded to Arizona. He most recently split the 2018 season between the Reds and Rangers organizations, appearing in only 16 big league games with Cincinnati.Over 11 seasons, he's recorded a .242/.309/.339 slash line."It's a guy we've had in this organization that has made himself a versatile player," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He knows kind of what we're all about here, and he was a favorite of mine back in my earlier days here, so it's nice to have him back."Worth Noting
• Lefty Wei-Chung Wang, who is in A's camp as a non-roster invitee, has a minor groin issue, per Melvin, and won't throw again until the discomfort subsides.Wang spent 2018 in Korea, where he posted a 4.26 ERA in 25 games for the NC Dino of the Korea Baseball Organization.